Editing Calyptrocalyx overview

{{PalmSpeciesHeader}}
__NOTOC__
According to Uhl & Dransfield in ''Genera Palmarum'' the genus
''Calyptrocalyx'' comprises about 38 species, one in the Moluccas,
the remainder in New Guinea. They are solitary or more often
clustering, small to moderate, undergrowth palms of the
primary rainforest. Occurring at elevations from sea level to about
l,000m in mountains usually on montaine slopes with well
drained soils, more rarely along streams or sometimes gregarious
in swampy or poorly drained areas.
This genus over the last couple of years has given an
expectation of something new and exciting to palm growers.
Species such as ''C. hollrungii'' have been around for many years,
but now species like
''C. albertsianus'',
''C. polyphyllus'',
''C. mara'', C. spp. Sanumb,
C. spp. Brriau (and the list goes on) are
some of the new and exciting discoveries.
At the moment over 25 species have been named, and they
include fine, split or entire leaf forms, and both trunked and
trunkless forms. One even has a very mottled leaf, however seeds
of this species are very hard to obtain.
All of these palms have enormous   potential   for
ornamental    horticulture.
''C. albertsianus'', which is one of the
few single trunk species, grows to 8 - 10 metres tall, likes shade
to filtered sunlight when young, but will grow through the canopy
above. This means the species, one of the few, will tolerate full
sun when large. Most of the others require shade to filtered
sun, and do not do well in windy places.
They respond to mulch, a well balanced fertilizer with trace
elements, and being kept moist and wet.
Their greatest asset is their new red leaf, which can vary from
bronze to orange to red to blood red to maroon, and the colour
can last up to 3/4 weeks. The new red leaf on the entire leaf
species such as C. spp Mara and ''C. pauciflorus'' are extremely
attractive.
Because of the colour of the new red leaf the new ''Calyptrocalyx''
species has been much sought after at garden shows and expo displays.
These species are a must in anybody's collection, and as for
the ordinary garden, they will be a highlight and a conversation
piece for a long time.
I have two large areas of
''C. albertsianus'' and ''C. polyphyllus'' at
my nursery, and when they produce their new red leaf at the
same time, they are an absolute picture, quite spectacular.
<br clear="all"/>

===Contributed by: ===
Morrie Spina<br/>

===External Links:===
<p>
[[Category:Calyptrocalyx|overview]]
[[Category:Palm|Calyptrocalyx_overview]]